= = 🔖 Problem 1 – Causes 🔖 = =
More vehicles on the roads these days. Most families now own more than one car
👉 The solution for problem 1
Better infrastructure. Car sharing schemes. Cycle lanes to encourage people to use bicycles instead of cars.

= = 🔖 Problem 2 – Causes 🔖 = =
Public transport is often inconvenient and overcrowded
👉 The solution for problem 2
More frequent and comfortable buses and trains would encourage people to use public transport.

This week we will be looking at a Task 1, and one of the techniques that students may use to show analytical ability as well as ensure they have enough word count, which is fatal otherwise.
This essay was written by a HK DSE student targeting a 7.0, however, due to the preponderance of syntax errors, is at the moment still around a 6.0 bank.
.
✅❎ James’ comment on the student’s work:
Third person singular errors, as highlighted in the essay, are damning around a 6.0
The candidate demonstrates some ability with a range of complex sentence structures, yet some gaucherie as well, thus nullifying somewhat the effect.
Spelling errors are not permitted at 7.0
Candidate makes the mistake of using HK’s favorite incorrect preposition “on”, corrected in the essay based on context.

✏ Singular plural incoherence is decisive in a 6.0 band, and no higher than 6.5 if there are few errors, which this essay is not the case.

Finally, in the conclusion, the candidate attempts to interpret the data, which, though not necessary, does present an opportunity to demonstrate skill and analytical ability if done so skillfully within the parameters of the topic. It is generally frowned upon to attempt to interpret the data which minimally requires that one report, not interpret, it.

However, there is something to be said of, nothing ventured, nothing gained, and what better way to stand out from the candidate pool than by astutely demonstrating incisive clarity, within reason. The key is to say, “the data suggests” rather than “I guess”, with the caveat of the limitations of the data. This candidate has done so, as appended.

This week we will look at an all too common HK-English mistake, that countless upon countless students are still making, courtesy of the unqualified and fraudulent
teachers that the HK government bureau of education endorses in the DSE system.

This sample, and we are specifically looking at the 釜conclusion paragraph, arguably the most important paragraph in the essay, was written by a working professional who like most Hong Kongers, imagines themselves to have near native proficiency or 7.0, yet are duly humbled when they see the reality after numerous attempts at the exam, and find they have only a 6.0, the global average for second language speakers.

Today’s tip is on the importance of maintaining coherence in the singularity or plurality of subject verb conjugation, probably the single most common mistake amongst second language English speakers in Hong Kong.
The following sample was written by a candidate whose target is 7.0 but is still getting a 6.0 or 6.5 at best due to these serious mistakes.